29 Toot(The Twenty-Ninth Day of the Blessed Month of Tute)

The Martyrdom of St. Arbsima (Repsima) the Virgin and
Her Sisters the Virgins

On this day, the holy virgins Arbsima (Repsima) and Agatha
(Ghana) and their sisters, were martyred during the reign of Emperor Diocletian.

This infidel sought out the most beautiful damsel to
marry. He sent artists to every country and ordered them to paint a portrait of
the most beautiful damsel that their sights fell on and to give him an accurate
description of her. When they arrived nearby Rome, they entered a convent for
virgins and found Saint Arbsima and none was like her in beauty. They painted a
portrait of her and sent it to the Emperor who rejoiced when he saw it. He sent
to the kings and governors to invite them to the wedding celebrations.

When Arbsima and the virgins knew that, they wept, and
left the convent fleeing, entreating the Lord Christ to help them and to keep
their virginity. They fled to the country of Armenia, and entered the province
over which Tridates was king. There they dwelt in a winery in a deserted garden.
They had great trouble in getting their food, so one of them made glass, sold
it, and with the money they bought their food.

When Diocletian sought for Arbsima, he did not find
her. Later on, he heard that she was in the country of Armenia so he sent to
Tridates the governor to look for her. When the virgins heard that, they left
their shelter and hid themselves in the city. But someone informed about them.
Tridates then commanded to bring Arbsima to him and when she refused, they
abducted her and brought her to him.

When he saw her beauty, he wanted to have her for
himself, but she did not let him. He brought her mother to persuade her but
instead she besought her to endure patiently. She comforted her, told her that
she must not forsake her true Bridegroom, the Lord Jesus Christ, and that she
must not defile her virginity. When he knew what her mother had done, he
commanded to break her teeth.

God gave St. Arbsima power to overcome the governor;
she pushed him forcefully and he fell on his back. She left him lying on the
floor although he was well known by his might and bravery in war. Ashamed of
having been vanquished by a virgin damsel, he ordered to cut off her head. The
soldiers came and tied her, tore out her tongue, plucked out her eyes, and then
cut her into pieces. When the governor rose up from his fall and regained his
senses, he was sorry for killing the saint.

He ordered to slay the rest of the virgins. The
soldiers pierced the soles of their feet, flayed them, cut them into pieces, and
then cast them out. One of them was sick and was lying on a bed, and she cried
out to the soldiers so she might join her sisters. So, they cut off her head
also and thus, all the virgins received the crown of martyrdom. The soldiers
also slew all who had come with them from Rome.

After their departure, the governor became mad and the
physicians could not help him until Saint Gregory, Bishop of Armenia, came to
him and prayed over him. By this he was healed of his affliction and believed in
the Lord Christ. He took the bodies of the holy and pure virgins and laid them
in a holy place.